Galesburg's Morning News

Knox County Board Chairman Jared Hawkinson joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg's Morning News on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the biggest decisions and developments facing the county. In this interview, Jared covers: The Knox County Courthouse task force — what's wrong with the building, what it would cost to fix, and why Hawkinson personally lean...

Kayla Whitmer, head of adult services at the Galesburg Public Library and organizer of the annual Community Read, joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg's Morning News Tuesday to preview a full month of programming built around a free book and a very Galesburg question: what does food mean to us? In this interview, Kayla covers: How to get a free copy of this year's book — "Bite by Bite" —...

Spring is here — and the City of Galesburg Parks and Recreation Department has a packed schedule for families and individuals of all ages. Recreation Supervisor Angie Buchen and Athletics Recreation Supervisor Luke Bradburn joined Galesburg's Morning News to preview what's coming up this spring. Topics covered include: The 38th Annual Easter Egg Hunt — Sunday, March 29, 1 p.m. sharp at 1033 S. Lak...

A solar farm is taking shape west of the Mary Davis Home in Galesburg — and local residents can subscribe to it to reduce their electric bills without installing a single panel on their property. Nexamp community liaison Laun Dunn joined Galesburg's Morning News to explain how the Southside Community Solar project works, who is eligible, and what kind of savings residents can expect. What is commu...

Something has been happening quietly inside Galesburg High School the past couple of years. The choir and theater programs have exploded in size — and the students behind that growth are about to take the stage in a big way. GHS Director of Choirs and Theatre Lucy Rieke joined Galesburg's Morning News along with GHS juniors Josh Cobb and Jordan Bowton to talk about the program's growth, the rise o...

Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson joins Galesburg's Morning News on Monday morning to preview the March 16 City Council agenda — on a day when snowplows have been running all night and a snow emergency is in effect for the city. The council meets at 6 p.m. at Galesburg City Hall. Emergency demolition ordinance The council is set to vote on an amendment to the city's emergency demolition ordinance...

Ashley Hinkle and Lisa Medina-Foshay, preschool family educators with the Regional Office of Education #33 Early Childhood Program, joined Galesburg's Morning News on Friday, March 13, to talk about self-regulation in young children — and to invite families to a free sensory workshop coming up Saturday, March 21. Self-regulation, they explain, is not something children are born with. It's a learne...

Kara Downin has spent nearly two decades helping Knox County landowners, farmers, and communities protect the soil, water, and wildlife of west-central Illinois. Her work recently earned her induction into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame — and she joined Galesburg's Morning News to talk about the honor and several programs with deadlines coming up fast. In this interview Kara's induction into th...

ROWVA's annual Community Open House returns Thursday, March 12, starting at 5 p.m. The event — now in approximately its 10th year — spans the elementary, junior high, and high school buildings and is open to all community members, not just current parents. ROWVA Elementary Principal Kerry Danner and teacher and Athletic Director Grant Gullstrand joined Galesburg's Morning News to preview the night...

Galesburg District 205 Superintendent John Asplund joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg's Morning News the morning after announcing his retirement — his first extended public comments following Monday night's board meeting. Asplund, who has led District 205 since 2017, confirmed that the 2026-27 school year will be his last. His retirement takes effect June 30, 2027, closing a 10-year te...

Knox County officially activated its new emergency alert system Monday morning, with Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind and Deputy Chief Brock Schmitt explaining the transition live on Galesburg's Morning News ahead of the test. Hovind and  Schmitt joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm in studio to explain the transition from CodeRED to IPAWS — the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, a federall...

Knox College English professor and lifelong Knox County resident Cyn Kitchen joined Galesburg's Morning News Friday to talk about her first full-length poetry collection, Broken Hallelujah, published by Finishing Line Press. Kitchen, who grew up in Galesburg and graduated from GHS in 1982, returned to higher education 14 years after high school — starting at Carl Sandburg College before earning he...

Ken Springer, president of the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg's Morning News Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for a wide-ranging discussion on economic development in Galesburg and Knox County. Topics covered in this interview include: Galesburg's first-ever appearance in Site Selection magazine's top small cities for economic developme...

The Buchanan Community Chorus is getting ready for a new season, and there's still time to join. The ensemble — which draws singers from Warren, Knox, and Henderson counties — begins its eight-week rehearsal cycle Monday, March 2. Rehearsals run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 221 E. Broadway, Monmouth. Anyone interested is welcome to show up to the first rehearsal, pick up a...

If you've never seen an improv show, Saturday night might be the perfect time to find out what you've been missing. Galesburg native Jill Bradford brings her fifth improv showcase to Prairie Players, 160 S. Seminary St., on Saturday, Feb. 28. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Doors and the bar open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door. The show carries a PG-13 advisory — content is uncensored and adult t...

He's 26 years old, he's headlined in Las Vegas 20 times, and his Facebook page reached more than 60 million people last year. Now Chris Ruggiero is bringing his reimagined classics to the historic Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg — and tickets are going fast. Ruggiero performs Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum as part of the Red Carpet Series presented by the City of Galesburg. Tickets rang...

Derek Peters, a local artist and graphic designer, joins Galesburg's Morning News hosts Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm to discuss his upcoming project "Explore Galesburg: A Coloring Journey." Peters moved to Galesburg from California three years ago after discovering the city on oldhomesunder50k.com. He was drawn by affordable Victorian homes and blown away by the city's architectural heritage. He say...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, hosts Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm welcome Josh Gibb and Kim Norton of the Galesburg Lions Club to preview the 78th Annual Pancake Day, taking place Friday, Feb. 20, at First United Methodist Church. The event is the Lions Club's largest fundraiser, with two seatings at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 an...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm sit down with Tami Qualls, the new leader of Galesburg's Women's Community Lenten Series, a 37-year ecumenical tradition that kicks off Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. Qualls takes over from Pastor Martha-Jean Fitch, who led the series from 2005 through 2025. In a symbolic nod to the transition, Pastor Fitch serves as the first speake...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, City Manager Eric Hanson previews tonight's City Council meeting, describing the agenda as the start of the city's spring and summer "go mode." The evening begins with the swearing-in of Chuck Reynolds as the new Ward 3 alderman, restoring full council representation after Evan Miller's departure in December. Safety takes center stage near Lake Storey w...

This episode of Galesburg's Morning News features Dr. Rossana Cauti, guest conductor for the Knox-Galesburg Symphony's "A Symphonic Valentine" concert tomorrow night (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre. Dr. Cauti, director of orchestras at Southern Illinois University and an active violist with the Pensacola and Northwest Florida symphonies, brings her Italian-Brazilian roots and internatio...

This episode of Galesburg's Morning News features Pippi Ardennia, Daniel Leahy, Carol Maloney, Becky Fleisher, Lora Wright, Bobby Dillard, and Scott Grulke from The Experience Allstar Band previewing their free Valentine's Day benefit concert—"Harmonies of Help"—on Saturday, February 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lindstrom’s TV & Appliance in downtown Galesburg. It's a perfect date-night setup wit...

This episode of Galesburg's Morning News features Andrew Driscoll, executive director of the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Galesburg. Andrew gives us the inside look at a packed lineup kicking off with Dinosaur World Live on February 18—a family-friendly interactive show with life-like puppets that's perfect for kids ages 3 to 6, plus special student performances through the YES Program. He...

Listen to a replay of the latest 7:00am weekday newscast that originally aired during  Galesburg's Morning News on WGIL.

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, Robin Johnson, a political consultant, Monmouth College lecturer since 2000, and host of Heartland Politics on WVIK public radio, joins us to remember Joe Angotti, the veteran NBC News journalist and Monmouth College adjunct professor who passed away January 25 at age 87. Johnson, a longtime friend and colleague of Angotti, shares personal stories of hi...